MINT HILL, NC – The Independence Patriots hosted the Porter Ridge Pirates in a Southwestern 4A Conference football game on Friday night.
After Porter Ridge sailed the opening kick-off into the end zone, Indy took possession on its own 20-yard line. With the Patriots facing a 3rd and 16, Indy’s Arnold Taylor threw for a first down. However, with 8:39 left in the first quarter, Indy turned the ball over at the Pirates’ 45-yard line.
After moving the ball to their own 18-yard line, the Pirates ran off tackle for the first score of the night. The point after was good, and Porter Ridge led 7-0.
With 1:07 showing on the clock, Porter Ridge had the ball on Indy’s 48-yard line and threw for the touchdown to make the score 14-0 as the first quarter came to an end.
In the second quarter, Porter Ridge moved the ball down to Indy’s 38-yard line. The Pirates threw a long pass down the sideline. After Porter Ridge’s receiver made the catch, Indy’s DeWayne Gissendanner delivered a punishing hit on Indy’s 3-yard line causing the receiver to fumble the ball. The Patriots’ Jeremy Phillips recovered the fumble and returned it to Indy’s 45-yard line.
On Indy’s first play from scrimmage, Arnold Taylor threw an interception to Porter Ridge’s 17-yard line with 3:05 left in the first half.
Following a Porter Ridge punt, the Patriots had the ball at mid-field. Indy advanced the ball to the Pirates’ 10-yard line but a holding penalty moved the ball back to the 20-yard line. With 7.1 seconds left in the half, the Patriots attempted a field goal which was blocked.
The first half came to an end with Porter Ridge leading 14-0.
The second half started with Porter Ridge receiving the kick-off on its own 26-yard line. The Pirates drove the ball down to Indy’s 31-yard line and ran in for the score on the next play to make the score 21-0 with 7:53 left in the third quarter. After exchanging counts back and forth, Porter Ridge pinned Indy back on its own 15-yard line with 3:43 left in the period. With 1:20 showing on the clock and Indy facing a 4th and 5, Indy’s Khall Morrison took a direct snap and ran for 11 yards and a first down as the third quarter ended with Porter Ridge leading 21-0.
As the final stanza got underway, Indy faced another fourth down. Khall Morrison ran to the Pirates’ 24-yard line for the first down. On the next play, Morrison took the snap and ran to the one-yard line. With 9:09 left in the game, Khall Morrison scored on the one-yard run. The Patriots attempted the two-point conversion but came up short and the Pirates led 21-6.
After Independence’s touchdown, Porter Ridge started a drive but time ran out, and the Porter Ridge Pirates picked up the conference win.
Indy fell to 1-2 in the conference standings and will travel to Butler next Friday night.
